Method and equipment for distributing digital video products with a restriction of certain products in terms of the representation and reproduction rights thereof

ABSTRACT

A process for distributing digital video products with a restriction of at least certain rights of representation and reproduction, including an initial stage of forming a bank of original digital video sequences on a publicly inaccessible server for each request made by a user, and a stage of selection by the user of one or several sequences of the video bank, which selection stage activates a modification stage producing a modified main stream in a nominal format of a selected original video sequence, but whose content was modified by cutting into two parts, a larger part of which is recorded in the modified main stream that cannot be used on standard reading equipment, and a smaller part that is retained in the server within complementary digital information personalized for each user and complementary to the modified main stream, a stage for transmitting the main stream modified at a distribution site, a stage for recording the modified main stream at the distribution site on a standardized support material, and a stage of sending complementary digital information to the user during viewing of the modified main stream sent to the user on the material support supplied by the distributor.

The present invention relates to the area of the distribution ofaudiovisual content via a physical distribution system such as anautomaton [automatic installation] for the renting of DVD's or videocassettes. The present invention relates more particularly to a means ofsecuring the distribution of an audiovisual content on a physicalsupport such as a DVD, with limited exploitation rights, and using thecharacteristics of the video compression format. The invention relates,without being limiting, in particular to the MPEG-2 video compressionformat, used in particular in DVD's.

The present invention proposes to supply a system that permits a digitalvideo content distributed physically to the user to be visuallyscrambled and recomposed. The invention proposes a system that permitsthe user to have at his disposal non-scrambled video content in exchangefor a transaction predefined by the distributor or to be defined at themoment of viewing the audiovisual content. The invention also permits atotal control of the use of copies and of the rights of broadcast works.

Certain current solutions permit the distribution of physicalaudiovisual supports of the DVD type via an automatic distributor or arental store. Even if it is not authorized, the DVD disks rented to theuser can be used by the latter for being copied during the rental timebecause they contain all the information necessary to make a copy ofthem. Moreover, it can occur in the stock of films preserved by adistributor that a film is not available for a client who desires it.

In order to avoid non-authorized pirated use, certain solutions proposetransmitting to the user an audiovisual stream that is scrambled,encrypted and/or protected by one or several coding keys. Thedescrambling is conditioned by one or several descrambling keys thatis/are sold in exchange for a transaction. The problem in this type ofthe solution is that a user equipped with powerful tools can determinethe descrambling key or keys without making the transaction and thusobtain a descrambled stream that he can use as desired, either forviewing it in an illicit manner or for making pirated copies of it.

In order to correct these various deficiencies the invention relates inaccordance with its most general meaning to a process for thedistribution of digital video products with a restriction of at leastcertain rights of representation and of reproduction, characterized inthat it comprises an initial stage of the constitution of a bank oforiginal digital video sequences on a server inaccessible to the public,and for each request made by a user and for selection stages by the userof one or several sequences of this video bank this selection stageactivates the transmission of the video sequence in the nominal formatof the original video sequence selected but of which the content wasmodified in order to render it non-usable on standard reading equipment,and comprises the recording of a second piece of personalizedinformation for this user and complementary to said first sequence,which first sequence is recorded at the distribution site on astandardized support material, and that the second piece of informationis delivered to the user during the viewing of this modified videosequence sent to the user on this support material supplied by thedistributor.

According to a first variant this transmission stage of this modifiedvideo sequence also comprises a stage of storing digital informationthat identifies the distributor.

According to a second variant this first part contains said digitalinformation identifying the distributor.

The process advantageously comprises an additional stage of reading thissupport by an apparatus comprising a means of identifying said user.

According to an advantageous embodiment the selection stage is realizedby the user from a personal terminal of the user communicating with thevideo server by a public telecommunication network. The terminal can bea personal computer communicating with the video server via theInternet, or a dedicated terminal such as a MINITEL (trademark) or alsoa cellular telephone via SMS, WAP, or a voice server or a telephoneusing DTMF commands.

According to a variant the recording of this first sequence at thedistribution site is conditioned by the transmission by the user ofidentifying information.

This identifying information can be constituted by informationtransmitted during the selection and the payment of the sequence in theform of a message sent by electronic mail or by SMS, or also by thecredit card number used for making the payment at the moment of theselection or during the removal of the support from the distributor.

The invention also relates to a system for the distribution of digitalvideo sequences comprising a video server, characterized in that it alsocomprises at least one piece of distribution equipment comprising ameans for recording a video sequence transmitted by this server on aphysical support, and means for identifying a user by this video serveron the one hand and the distribution equipment on the other hand.

The distribution equipment is advantageously constituted by an automatoncomprising a DVD burner and conditional means of accessing the burnedDVD by the user who selected the corresponding video sequence from thevideo server.

The present invention will be better understood from a reading of thefollowing description of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment referringto the attached drawing in which FIG. 1 describes the total architectureof a system for carrying out the process in conformity with theinvention.

The general principle of a process for securing a video stream isdisclosed in the following. The objective is to authorize the videoservices on demand and a la carte [separately] via all broadcastingnetworks and to authorize the local recording in the digital decoder boxof the user. The solution consists in permanently retaining a part ofthe recorded audiovisual program away from the audiovisual decoder ofthe user and in fact in the broadcasting and transmitting network, whichpart is of primary importance for viewing said audiovisual program on atelevision screen or on a monitor-type screen but has a very smallvolume relative to the total volume of the digital audiovisual programsstored with the user. The lacking part is transmitted via thetransmitting broadcasting network at the moment of the viewing of thisdigital audiovisual program prerecorded at the user's.

The greatest part of the audiovisual stream is recorded on a classicsupport of video content (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), which support must,however, store the information in digital form. The support is sold,distributed free of charge or is loaned to the user and can be read by aclassic device for reading this type of support (CD reader and/or DVDreader). Alternatively, the greatest part of the audiovisual stream istransmitted via a classic broadcasting network.

The lacking part is sent on demand via a narrow band telecommunicationnetwork such as the classic telephone networks or the cellular networksof the GSM, GPRS or UMTS type or by using a small part of a network ofthe DSL or BLR type, or also by using a subset of the bandwidth sharedon a cable network. The lacking part is sent as the viewing of the videostream progresses and is stored temporarily in a volatile memory of theclient equipment. Thus, it can not be recopied by the user after it hasbeen used for viewing.

Thus, the user never has the entire original video stream in digitalform on his equipment and can therefore not reproduce it illegally. Inthe remainder of the text the greatest part, distributed onto a supportfor the user, is called “modified main stream.” The lacking part iscalled “complementary digital information.”

In FIG. 1 the video distribution automaton 3 is adapted for connectingat least one display device, e.g., a monitor, a video projector or adevice like a television screen 4 to at least one interface of atransmission and broadband broadcasting network 7 and to at least onetelecommunication network interface 6. According to the presentinvention this arrangement is composed of a decoder module 3 comprisingprimarily, on the one hand, a processing unit adapted for processing, inparticular decoding and descrambling any digital video stream accordingto a pre-loaded software program of decoding and descrambling in such amanner as to display it, in real or differed time [time shift viewing],store it, record it and/or send it on a telecommunication network, andcomprising on the other hand at least one screen interface 4 and aninterface for connecting to a local or extended network 6 and/or 7. Thebroadband transmission and broadcasting network 7 and thetelecommunication network 6 can be combined in a single network.Moreover, the broadband transmission and broadcasting network 7 can bereplaced by a physical distribution channel (e.g., CD-ROM or DVD).

As FIG. 1 shows, distribution automaton 3 is connected to broadbandtransmission and broadcasting network 7 such as a modem, satellitemodem, cable modem, fiber optic line interface or radio or infraredinterface for wireless communication.

The content of audiovisual program such as films or any otheraudiovisual or multimedia sequence will be sent by this classic videobroadcasting link. However, in order not to allow pirated copies to bemade, provision is made prior to transmitting the audiovisual contentfrom server 1 to retain a small part of the audiovisual content in thisserver 1. Likewise, if the audiovisual content is distributed by aphysical support such as a disk 22 and not solely via a broadbandtransmission and broadcasting network 7, a small part of the audiovisualcontent is removed from the latter before it is recorded on this support22.

In the case in which an audiovisual program is viewed in real time, thissmall part of the audiovisual content retained in server 1 will also besent to module 3 via telecommunication network 6. Alternatively, thissmall part of the audiovisual content retained in server 1 will betransmitted to module 3 by a physical support such as a memory card.

The present invention will be better understood from a reading of anexemplary embodiment referring to the attached drawing. In thisexemplary embodiment the audiovisual content undergoes a first analysisstage. Entering digital audiovisual stream 10 is sent to analysis device11 that uses the characteristics of the video coding format of stream 10in order to determine modified main stream 101 and complementary digitalinformation 102. Modified main stream 101 has the same format asentering stream 10 but has undergone modifications to certainparameters. The modified main stream can therefore by read on a standardreader of this format but the displaying of the correspondingaudiovisual content is not correct from the standpoint of humanperception. In the case of MPEG-2 the modifications made to enteringstream 10 can be: Modification or substitution of certain DCcoefficients of certain blocks, modification or substitution ofinformation about the compensation of movement, modification orsubstitution of the order of scanning coefficients of certain images,etc.

The modifications made and any original information replaced in modifiedmain stream 101 are stored in complementary digital information 102 inorder to be subsequently sent to the user of the equipment 3.

In the exemplary embodiment described in the following modified mainstream 101 is transmitted to an automaton for the distribution ofsupports of video streams via link 5. Modified main stream 101 isrecorded on hard disk 21 of distributing automaton 2. Link 5 betweenequipment 2 and analyzing server 1 can be a telecommunication link suchas a DSL, BLR or cable link. Alternatively, modified main stream 101 isrecorded on a physical support that equipment 2 can read such as, e.g.,a DVD.

A user who has client equipment 3 goes to the distributor with equipment2. He requests original video stream 10 from this distributor. Thedistributor then uses equipment 2 for burning a physical support 22containing modified main stream 101 stored in memory 21. Automaton 2advantageously records an identifier of this distributor comprehensibleto server 1 on physical support 22. Physical support 22 thereforecontains modified main stream 101 and an identifier of distributor 2.According to the distributor the supplying of physical support 22 to theclient can be or not be the subject of a transaction.

In the instance in which modified main stream 101 is not stored inmemory 21, modified main stream 101 is advantageously transmitted byserver I to automaton 2 via link 5.

The user then inserts physical support 22 into reader 32 of his clientequipment 3. When he desires to view original video stream 10 he can notdo so without recovering complementary digital information 102. Forthis, client equipment 3 is connected to server 1 by link 6. Server 1identifies client equipment 3 by a classic system of terminalidentification (IP address, smart card, number of telecommunication line6, etc.). According to a transaction between user 3 and the companymanaging server 1, the latter either authorizes or does not authorizethe sending of complementary digital information 102 to client equipment3 via network 6.

Furthermore, before the start of viewing, client equipment 3automatically sends the identifier of distributor 2 contained onphysical support 22 to server 1. Thus, server 1 recognizes the origin ofphysical support 22 on the client equipment and could pay distributor 2via a subsequent transaction not described in the invention.

Complementary digital information 102 is sent to client equipment 3 asvideo stream 22 is being viewed and read itself by reader 32 of clientequipment 3. To this end digital information 102 is sent via network 6and is stored temporarily in volatile memory 31 of equipment 3.Synthesis device 35 receives the portion of complementary digitalinformation via buffer 33 and the portion of the modified main stream tobe displayed stored on disk 22 in reader 32 via buffer memory 34.Synthesis device 35 reconstitutes from complementary digital information102 and modified main stream 101 a stream that is strictly identical tooriginal stream 10 and transmits it to classic decoder 36 with theformat of the original stream. The decoded stream is displayed onviewing screen 4.

The embodiment described above comprises a large number of variants,presented below.

The format of physical support 22 of the modified main stream isadvantageously in the DVD format.

The video format of the streams concerned is advantageously differentfrom the MPEG-2 format used by current commercial DVD's.

Another embodiment of the present invention advantageously consists inapplying a different analysis for each distributor 2. Then, the originalstream 10 is cut in two for each distributor 2 by analysis device 11.Server 12 is then connected to a database in which each differentanalysis is associated with an identifier of distributor 2 to which theresulting modified main stream is transmitted. Thus, when clientequipment 3 requests complementary digital information 102, the filerequested allows the distributor to be determined that supplied themodified main stream to the user and thus allows a transaction to bemade with the identifier of distributor 2.

Server 1 and distribution automaton 2 are advantageously integrated intoautomatic server equipment 8.

Several users 3 can advantageously view the same audiovisual file 10 viathe same physical support 22. The disk is available at a distributorsuch as a renter of DVD's. The disk can be borrowed by clients of thisdistributor 2 in order to be viewed on adequate equipment 3. Disk 22contains modified main stream 101 and the address of this distributor 2.When the user borrows the disk at this distributor and desires to viewthe video content, he has two possibilities:

-   -   Either the user looks at the video content such as it is        recorded on disk 22, but since modified main stream 101 is        strongly degraded from the standpoint of human visual        perception, he can not view the film,    -   Or, if user 3 really desires to view the original video stream,        he is automatically connected to server 1 in order to obtain        complementary digital information 102. To this end, user 3        establishes connection 6 with server 1, which connection can be        an RTC link, DSL link, cable link, etc. Server 1 sends        complementary digital information 102 as the viewing of the        video stream progresses. Complementary digital information 102        is stored temporarily in input memory 31, that is a volatile        memory. Synthesis device 35 receives the complementary digital        information stored in buffer 33 and the modified main stream        stored on disk 32 inserted in equipment 3 via reading buffer 34.        Synthesis device 35 uses the information contained in        complementary digital information 102 for correcting the        modified main stream in order to reconstitute a video stream        identical to original stream 11. The reconstituted video stream        is sent to classic audiovisual decoder 36 and is displayed on        viewing means 4.

Server 1 is advantageously integrated into distributor automaton 2.

Each modified main stream 101 and each complementary digital information102 is advantageously personalized for each user 3.

Device 8 advantageously records complementary digital information 102 onphysical support 23 such as a flash memory card or any other means ofportable storage, which permits the recomposition of the original stream11 by equipment 3 without equipment 3 necessarily being connected to atransmission network 6, which physical support 23 is then connected viamemory 31 to interface 33 of module 8 for the reconstitution of theoriginal stream.

Device 8 advantageously records on physical support 23 the number oftimes that the original stream corresponding to complementary digitalinformation 102 can be viewed.

The same physical support 23 can advantageously comprises several filesof complementary digital information 102.

Device 8 advantageously records modified main stream 101 andcomplementary digital information 102 on physical support 22, thuspermitting the creation of a private copy of the stream to be recomposedin conformity with original stream of 11, which recomposition is made byequipment 3.

Device 8 advantageously records original stream of 11 on physicalsupport 22, thus permitting the creation of a private copy of thisoriginal stream of 11.

Automaton 2 advantageously comprises means for printing labels andjackets to be placed on physical support 22 and the box of physicalsupport 22.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A process for distributing digital video productswith a restriction of at least certain rights of representation andreproduction, comprising: an initial stage of forming a bank of originaldigital video sequences on a publicly inaccessible server for eachrequest made by a user, and a stage of selection by the user of one orseveral sequences of the video bank, which selection stage activates amodification stage producing a modified main stream in a nominal formatof a selected original video sequence, but whose content was modified bycutting into two parts, a larger part of which is recorded in themodified main stream that cannot be used on standard reading equipment,and a smaller part that is retained in the server within complementarydigital information personalized for each user and complementary to themodified main stream, a stage for transmitting the main stream modifiedat a distribution site, a stage for recording the modified main streamat the distribution site on a standardized support material, and a stageof sending complementary digital information to the user during viewingof the modified main stream sent to the user on the material supportsupplied by the distributor.
 22. The process according to claim 21,wherein the transmission stage of the modified main stream furthercomprises a stage of storing digital information that identifies thedistributor.
 23. The process according to claim 22, wherein the modifiedmain stream contains digital information identifying the distributor.24. The process according to claim 21, wherein the support is a DVDdisk.
 25. The process according to claim 21, further comprising a stageof reading the support with an apparatus comprising a user identifier.26. The process according to claim 21, wherein the selection stage isrealized by the user from a personal terminal of the user communicatingwith the video server by a public telecommunication network.
 27. Theprocess according to claim 21, wherein the stage of recording themodified main stream at the distribution site is conditioned bytransmission by the user of identifying information.
 28. The processaccording to claim 21, wherein the stage for modifying the originalvideo sequence corresponds to a processing specific to the distributordesignated by the user during the selection stage.
 29. The processaccording to claim 28, wherein the server is connected to a database inwhich each specific processing is associated with an identifier of thedistributor to which a resulting modified main stream is transmitted.30. The process according to claim 21, wherein during use of thephysical support obtained from the distributor, the user establishes aconnection with the server, which sends the complementary digitalinformation as viewing of the video stream progresses, which portion ofcomplementary digital information is stored temporarily in an inputmemory that is a volatile memory.
 31. The process according to claim 30,wherein the synthesis device receives the complementary digitalinformation stored in a buffer and the modified main stream stored on adisk inserted in the equipment via a reading buffer, and the synthesisdevice uses information contained in the complementary digitalinformation to modify the modified main stream to reconstitute a videostream identical to the original stream.
 32. The process according toclaim 21, wherein the stage of modifying the original video sequencecorresponds to a processing specific for each user identified during theselection stage.
 33. The process according to claim 32, wherein theserver is connected to a database in which each specific processing isassociated with a user.
 34. The process according to claim 21, whereinthe device records on a portable storage the complementary digitalinformation that permits recomposition of the original stream byequipment without the equipment necessarily being connected to atransmission network, and a physical support is then connected to aninterface of a module for reconstitution of the original stream.
 35. Theprocess according to claim 21, wherein the client equipment comprises acounter of a number of possible representations.
 36. A system fordistributing digital video sequences comprising: a video server thatcarries out the process according to claim 21, at least one piece ofdistribution equipment comprising a video sequence recorder transmittedby the server on a physical support, and a user identifier by the videoserver and the distribution equipment.
 37. The system according to claim36, wherein the distribution equipment comprises an automaton/devicecomprising a DVD burner and conditional means of accessing the burnedDVD by the user who selected a corresponding video sequence from thevideo server.
 38. The system according to claim 36, wherein thedistribution equipment and the server are locally interconnected withouta link via a telecommunication network.
 39. The system according toclaim 36, wherein the distribution equipment comprises a printer toprint an information product.
 40. The system according to claim 36,wherein the distribution equipment comprises an automaton/device fordistribution of recording supports.